Sub-Charge!

Explanatory Note

Our proposal, SUB-CHARGE!, is a solution for revitalising the space under the bridge with a social approach. SUB-CHARGE! harvests electrical energy form the inevitable mechanical vibrations of the bridge to create a colorful and lit space for charging mobile electronic devices in an urban setting to bring life to the concept of social and sustainable urban power farms.

As it also comes from the sociological survey among the habitants of “Tolbuhinsky” bridge’s neighbourhood, spaces under the bridges are generally dirty and abounded places which no one tends or even dares to go! This is on the one hand as a result of the lack of light under the bridge especially by night, and on the other hand the deafening noise caused by the vibration of the bridge due to the traffic overhead.

Considering these two main issues, our design proposes placing vibration- sensitive piezoelectric tiles in certain parts of the bridge (explained in following paragraphs) to harvest enough electrical energy for illuminating LED lamps in our hanging cables as well as charging mobile electronic devices.

The opportunity to charge mobile devices under the bridge, will bring about the chance for people to follow their activities in social networks as well as gathering in a social space under the bridge. This, resembles the social circles in social networks: making a connection between VIRTUAL social networks and social ARCHITECTURE!

Regarding the speed limit of 60 km/h and the approximate weight of different vehicles that pass “Tolbuhinsky” bridge and the traffic — which consists of heavy vehicles due to the fact that the bridge is not far from a factory and is also used for inter-city transit — we could expect a great amount of energy harvested from the vibrations of the bridge by quartz piezoelectric tiles.

The vibrations of the bridge, caused by traffic passing overhead, are in the form of a sinusoidal graph repeating in different modes and with different angular frequencies which is in a way similar to the waves of the produced AC current.

Bridge joints (where beams reach the end of their span) and column bases are the parts that take the maximum vibration. in those we place our vibration- sensitive piezoelectric tiles.